Folding camp table



` Cet. l5, 1929. T, J, BOETTGER 1,731,920

FOLDING CAMP TABLE Filed Deo. z3, lee 4 sheets-sheet 1v waaffd. @af-frag? 4 Oct. 15, 1929. r. J. BOETTGER FOLDING CMP TABLE ,Filed Deo. 23. 1926 4 Sheets-Sham. 2

#W7/VES 555 CIMM/11 Gct. 15, 1929. T. J. BQETTGER 1,731,920

FOLDING CAMP TABLE Filedneo. 2:5, 192e 4 sheets-sheet 3 IWT/1655556 Oct. 15, 1929. 11.1. BOETTGER 1,731,920

FOLDING CAMP TABLE Filed Dec. 25. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l ammi/ual Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE THEODORE J. BOE'TTGER, OF TUCSON, ARIZONA FOLDING CAMP TABLE Application led December 23, 1926. Serial No. 156,683.

This invention relates to the class of furniture and pertains particularly to a folding table structure.

The primary object of this invention is the provision, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, of an improved type of table having means whereby the legs thereof may be readily removed and folded and further having means whereby the top may be folded for storage in a compact form or to facilitate the easy transportation of the table.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, of a folding table structure having an improvedmeans for removably attaching the legs to the top.

Still another object of the invention is the provision, in the manner as hereinafter `set forth, of a folding table having detachable legs and having an improved detachable bracing structure between the legs and the table top. v

A final object of the invention is the provision, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, of a table of the above described type which will be strong and durable, readily assembled and disassembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention will be best understood from the consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification1 with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material` departure from the salient features vof the invention as expressed in the appending claims.

v4:5 In the drawings:

Figure 1 show-s the table embodying this invention, end elevation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse section of the table structure looking toward one end thereof.

Figure 4; is a longitudinal section taken upon the line /1-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the table top, the legs thereof being removed.

Figure 6 shows the top in top plan, having 55 the central portion thereof broken away.

Figure 7 is a section taken upon the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a section taken upon the line 8-8 of Figure 3. e0

Figure 9 shows the manner in which the top and leg structure is secured together.

Figure 10 is a detail in side elevation of a portion of the legstructure.

Figure 11 is a transverse section taken upon 65 the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 shows the manner in which the top sections are folded together'.

Figure 13 shows the leg structure of one end of the table in folded condition. Figure 14k is a view showing the manner in which the brace rods are secured together in overlapping relation beneath table body, the view being taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 15.

Figure 15 is a section taken at the central portion of the table top showing the manner in which the brace rods are attached theres to, and

Figure 16 is a detailed perspective view 80 of one of the brace rod members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals of reference indi cate corresponding parts throughout the sev`- eral views, the table top is indicated as a whole by the numeral l and this top is, as shown, made up of a plurality of lcngitudinally extending edge engaged sections 2, 3, and t each of which has extending longitudinally of the under face thereof, adjacent each side edge, a reinforcing cleat, the cleats of the section 2 being indicated by the numeral 5, and of the same height as will be readily seen upon reference to Figure 3. The section 3 has one cleat 6 of the same height 95 as the adj acentcleat 5 of section 2, while the cleats 7 at the opposite longitudinal edge of the section is of greater height, as shown. The cleats 8 carried by the section t at that side edge adjacent the section 3 is of the same 100 height as cleat 7, whilethe other cleat of this section is of substantially the same height as the cleat 5. Extending between the ends of the cleats of eachv section at each end of the sections are cross cleats 9 which are of substantially the same height as the cleats 5 and 6 ofthe sections 2 and 3.

As before stated, the cleats 5 and 6 are in longitudinal abutting relation and'cleats 7 and 8 are in abutting relation, when the table top is Open, and hinge members: 10 connect across the lower edges of these cleats so that the top can be folded to the position shown in Figure 12.

Upon reference to Figure 12 it will be seen that the section 2 is `of less width than the section 3, the difference in width being ap Prcisimatcly cqua'l tc the thickness cf .cnc ci ,the"cleats, and section Ltis of greater width than section 3 so that section 2 will fold with the cleat/along one edge abutting the inner side of cleat 7 of section `3, and the outer edge f jAdapted to extend transversely of each and Vcfr tbcV tablc tcp when thc Sections arc opened outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 43, is a reinforcing bar 12 which lies against the lower aligned edges of the cross vcleats 9 of the top sections andsecured to the ends cf'cac'h.A cf. thc brace bars is a plurality ci ate-members which members are indicated y numerals 13,111 and 15, the same being ada ted for position against the inner faces ofte cross cleats of the sections 2, 3 an d 4:

" :Gli

f vs elearly shown, in vFigure 3, the plates or brackets 13 to 15 are of U-form, and each comprises a free portion 16 which extends in spaced parallel ,relation to the inner face of the brace bar 1.2. andv abcvc thc tcp cdec ci ybar while they lower portion of this plate iStinjned inwardly as indicated at 17 and f engages-with an upturnccl 'portion' 18 which isin'spaced parallel relation to the portion 16` and Which is adapted to be counter sunk,

into the barv 12 in the manner shown in Fignrest7 and9. The free portions 16 ofeach of the plates is provided with a slot 19 while the connectedportion 17 between the portions ljan'd 18 is of materially less width than thelower part ofthe free portion 16 as shown in Fignre'f) for the purpose to be hereinafter set forth.- Y

The plates at the ends of the section 3 of thetabletop are simi-lar to the plates 13 and 1.5 'with the exccption that thc inwardly cirtcefls fpcrticns 17 and the' counter sunk po'rtions 18 are of the same width as the lower part of the free portion 16.

At each end of the table structure is a crossed leg structure comprising a straight leg 2O and a three-part leg 21 consisting of the odset upper and lower portions 22 and the intermediate spaced plates 23 which connect the adjacent ends of the portions 22. The plates 23 each comprise a central section 2li and, obtusely angled end sections 25, the angled end sections of the plates 23 are secured in alignment with opposite faces of the leg sections 22 forming between the ends of these leg sections a space through which the straight leg extends and setting the leg sections A2 2 in parallel offset rel ation. The leg 2O is pivotally secured between the plates 23by the pivot members 26, which pivot members comprise bolts having a winged nut upon their inner ends.

The upper end of each of the upper ones of the leg sections 22 and the upper end of the legs 2O has secured thereto an engaging` plate 27 provided with a laterally extending notch 28 and from this it will be readily seen that when the cross leg structures at each end of the table are opened to the position shown in Figure 3, the plates 27 are adapted to exi tend between the brace bar 12 and the free portions of the plates 13 and 15 to engage over a bolt 11, which bolt also is positioned in the notch 19 of the adjacent plates 13 or l5. Suitable winged nuts or other securing devices are threaded upon the bolts to maintain the upper ends of the legs in engagement between the plates and the table top cross cleats. It will also be seen that with the brace bar 12 in a position lshown in Figure 3 across the lower edges of the cross cleats 9, the slots in the respective plates 13, 14- and 15 being opened in the same direction that the notches in these plates will readily cngage the bolts 11 and the center plates 14 will also engage the bolts 11 which passes through the adjacent end of the section 3.

Arranged transversely of the central p0rtion of the section at a point intermediate the ends thereof is a bridge structure 29 through which a downwardly directed bolt 3() extends which bolt is provided with a winged nut 31 or like securing element.

Extending from each of the bolts 26 of the crossed leg members, to the bolts carried upon the bridge 29 at the central portion of the table top, is a brace bar 32, each en-d of which is turned at an angle as indicated by the numerals 33 and 34, and each of these angle portions is bifurcated so that the same may be readily engaged about the adjacent bolts. The angle of the end 33 of each of the brace bars 32 is rather sharp while the angle ofthe end 34 is slight, the purpose for this being readily apparent.

Froni the foregoing, it will be readily seen that the table structure embodying this invention is such that it may be readily knocked down and folded for easy transportation or for storage in a small space, and it will also be seen that the means provided for accomplishing this is novel and simple.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In. a table structure of the character described, a top body formed of a plurality of hingedly connected sections, a brace bar adapted to extend transversely of the under side of said body at each end thereof to maintain said sections in open relation, a plurality of plate members carried by each of said brace bars, means for securing' each of said plate members of each bar to a body section, and foldable leg structures at each end of said table having removable engagement between certain of said plate members and an adjacent portion of an adjacent section.

2. In a table structure of the character described, a top body, a brace member extending transversely at each end of said top upon the under side thereof, a plate element carried adjacent each end of each brace member, bolt members carried by each brace member for extension through the plates, a pair of legs at each end of said top body and, pivotally connected intermediate their ends for folding, and a coupling plate carried at the upper end of each of said legs and adapted to be connected to one of said bolts.

3. A foldable table of the character described, comprising a plurality of top sections arranged in side by side relation, connecting elements between said sections, a plurality of rigid elements each arranged adjacent one end and at the underside of each top section, a reinforcing bracing bar designed to extend across the ends of said sections, coupling plates carried by each rigid member and projecting upwardly for engagement with said rigid elements, and leg members arranged at each end of said table and each having a removable connection with one of said rigid elements.

4. A foldable table of the character described, comprising a plurality of top sections normally arranged in side by side relation, connectinoelements between the adjacent edges of said sections, a cleat member extending transversely of each end of each section, a supporting bolt extending through each of said cleats and spaced from the under side of the adjacent section, a brace bar designed to extend along' the under faces of said cleats, to maintain the same in alignment, a plurality of upwardly projecting slotted plates carried by each brace bar and designed to receive in the slot thereof an adjacent bolt, supporting legs, and a slotted plate carried at the upper end of each of said legs and designed to engage over certain of said bolts, substantially as described.

5. A table comprising legs, bars arranged at the upper ends of the legs, a top provided with cleats resting upon the bars, U-shaped brackets having one side secured to the bars and their other side members arranged in spaced relation to the cleats, a plate secured to the upper end of each leg and positioned between the side members of the brackets, a-nd fastening elements passing through the cleats and said other side members and the plates.

6. A table comprising legs, bars arranged at the upper ends of the legs, a top provided with cleats resting upon the bars, U-shaped brackets having one side secured to the bars and their other side members arranged in spaced relation to the cleats and provided with open ended slots, a plate secured to the upper end of each leg and positioned between the side members of the brackets and provided with open ended slots registering with said first slots, and fastening elements passing through the slots of the brackets and plates and through the cleats.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THEODORE J. BOETTGER.

lit) 

